Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

DispatchBez · 2023-06-09 13:13:24

Hi guys, just purchased a Citroen Dispatch 1.9D (2005) with only 70k on the clock, madness - so far so good!

The original stereo is absolutely ruined, doesn't take CD's etc, right door speaker is broken - looking to upgrade.

Is there a specific part number for the wire-harness/adaptor between the Dispatch and the aftermarket radio? Been struggling to find it online.

Thanks all!

kenbw2 · 2023-06-09 13:34:37

Congrats on your new purchase. 70k miles is awesome. I know I was confused when my odometer started with a 0, but mine was a heady 90k

I *think* on the later models it's a standard ISO connector, so any standard connector will work. Worst case scenario just get one of these bare wire kits make it an ISO connector

Last edited by kenbw2 (2023-06-09 13:35:31)

DispatchBez · 2023-06-09 14:00:10

kenbw2 wrote:

Congrats on your new purchase. 70k miles is awesome. I know I was confused when my odometer started with a 0, but mine was a heady 90k
I *think* on the later models it's a standard ISO connector, so any standard connector will work. Worst case scenario just get one of these bare wire kits make it an ISO connector

Cheers Ken, I'll give it a bash - Ironically, I work in pro-audio (mixing desks, interfaces etc) but have little to no experience in automotive audio haha...

JohnDragonMan · 2023-06-09 20:04:25

hey welcome, yeah these are standard 2 plug ISO connectors compatible with everything. if you have steering wheel controls they are nice and simple resistive controls. if you get one of those android head units they can be manually programmed. you will have 2x "key" wires from the head unit and 4 wires from the steering wheel. if i remember they are on a separate multi colour plug. i cant remember the wiring diagram sadly but i know that 2 wires are to make the steering wheel buttons light up and the other 2 wires are what the resistive values flow through. the most simple way to wire them up is to use a multi meter set to impedance/ohms and find the 2 wires that "do something" when a button is pressed. thats your switches. the other 2 will be illumination.

i wired mine up as follows:
2 switch wires from steering wheel: ground one, and put the other wire to one of the "key" wires
for the illumination: theres actually a wire that goes live when you turn on the lights in the ISOs power plug. my memory is telling me its pin 7 but check this with a volt meter. tap into that and to one of the illumination wires on the steering wheel (you may have to swap the wires around as the LEDs are pole sensitive) the other wire again just ground.
(you should be able to just tap into the radios wiring harness for the grounds)

if you have a radio that needs a steering wheel adaptor box this should also help you. i am using a universal "Connects2" box for mine and it does work quite well.
i cant remember what radio i have, but i know i needed one with 6 RCA outputs (front L+R, rear L+R and sub L+R) as the head unit is not wired to the speakers directly, everything goes through RCAs to a DSP then to a 4 channel amp and sub+amp (i got lazy).

i have 3 way component speakers in my doors and high up i have Coaxial speakers in my bulkhead. this sounds like an insane sound build but really its not insane and looks completely stock all but a 4 inch mid range speaker near my window winder and a tweeter near the mirror adjust joysticks.

being a person that works with audio i guess you already know but for others on here a quick heads up on speakers:
Coaxial speakers are cheap. cheap usually means they are not good but theres nothing wrong with them if they are used in the right place. down at floor level in the doors original speaker location is not great as they have built in tweeters. tweeters produce the high frequency sounds like a high hat hit. high frequency sounds are very directional and they do not "curve" to your ears low and mid range frequencies bounce around. therefore placing a coaxial speaker high up at head height (or pointing at your head) is best, like on the bulkhead. this is why 2 or 3 way component speakers are the best choice for the doors as the low frequency 6 inch speakers will do your bass and the separate tweeters should be placed high up pointing at your head (or the middle of the vans front seats at head height, there will be enough spill from the tweeters to cover both driver and passenger).

once you get everything set by adjusting all of your levels for each channel the sound quality will be like nothing you have ever heard. it aslo does not cost as much as you think, my Focal 3 way component speakers were an ebay offer for £80, and the coaxial were just £25. all matching wattage. which to be fair is all you need. if you do want extra volume running everything through an amp is best. a cheap 4 channel amp will only cost like £60. the DSP is for ahh.. audio snobs.. its not really needed but you know its there if you look.. err.. hear for it. the head unit? well that was £20 from facebook market place. actually thinking about it, all of this stuff would be on facebook marketplace. loads of people buy stuff and yeah it makes their audio slightly better, but its like a musical instrument.. give it to someone who knows how to set it up and they can make it sing.

hope this helps!

kenbw2 · 2023-06-12 01:17:23

I like your little speakers next to the mirror adjusters. They look surprisingly in-keeping with the design

To your point about other locations, interestingly that blanking plate in the corners of the dashboard are for tiny little speakers on the Synergie/806. I actually robbed them from my old Synergie and they make a huge difference

hedgerowpete · 2023-06-15 13:43:16

I fitted a double din android head unit and i have no issues

Biggest con by far is a company called "Connects2" they advertise these leads that link new to old plugs and steering wheel control adapters and all that. All they do is charge a fortune for their parts. When they don't work or don't fit, they treat you like scum and push away from you. They have a customer don't care department and terrible help line and tech help. Only interested in taking your money and ignoring you.

Mixerfistit · 2023-06-15 13:44:45

One of my next jobs is to get a set of 806/syn tweeters for the dash corners if I can find some.
Despite PSA regularly putting crap paper speakers in the doors that fall apart after a few years, I've always found the dash tweeters to be of decent performance on the many picassos I've owned.

How are they wired? Are they in parallel with the door speakers and capacitors added or are they built in seeing as they're oem?

Mixerfistit · 2023-06-15 13:48:48

hedgerowpete wrote:

I fitted a double din android head unit and i have no issues
Biggest con by far is a company called "Connects2" they advertise these leads that link new to old plugs and steering wheel control adapters and all that. All they do is charge a fortune for their parts. When they don't work or don't fit, they treat you like scum and push away from you. They have a customer don't care department and terrible help line and tech help. Only interested in taking your money and ignoring you.

I had one of these for an old Xpic and aftermarket CD player but after upgrading to an android HU and much fiddling, realised the android ones could handle the controls on their own. After the xpic died I've put it in my Dispatch and still works great. Much simpler (once you know the pinout of course).

kenbw2 · 2023-06-15 13:53:01

Mixerfistit wrote:

One of my next jobs is to get a set of 806/syn tweeters for the dash corners if I can find some.
Despite PSA regularly putting crap paper speakers in the doors that fall apart after a few years, I've always found the dash tweeters to be of decent performance on the many picassos I've owned.
How are they wired? Are they in parallel with the door speakers and capacitors added or are they built in seeing as they're oem?

They just have a plug on the end of a short wire. I wired them in parallel with the door speakers.

Although I forgot to check that the positive and negative matched the door speakers, one day I'll get around to that

Mixerfistit · 2023-06-15 22:25:33

Good point, I'll have to watch out for that myself.
Planning on upgrading the door speakers and also have a pair in the back. Can't decide whether to mount on the side panel ply or put them in the roof ply yet though. Was thinking they'd be less obstructed up top when carrying a load/camping gear.

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#1 2023-06-09 13:13:24

Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#2 2023-06-09 13:34:37

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#3 2023-06-09 14:00:10

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#4 2023-06-09 20:04:25

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#5 2023-06-12 01:17:23

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#6 2023-06-15 13:43:16

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#7 2023-06-15 13:44:45

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#8 2023-06-15 13:48:48

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#9 2023-06-15 13:53:01

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

#10 2023-06-15 22:25:33

Re: Installing an aftermarket CD player / Radio

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